Asters has announced that it acted as pro bono advisor in connection with the donation of the private collection of Igor Dychenko (a famous Ukrainian art critic, artist, and collector) to the state-owned Mystetskyi Arsenal ("Art Arsenal") museum complex.

The donation ceremony, which involved Valeria Virsca, Mr. Dychenko's widow and sole heir, and Petro Poroshenko, the President of Ukraine, was held on October 12, 2015. The resulting exhibition — titled "Open collection. Igor Dychenko and Valeria Virska – to the Ukrainian people” — will be opened to the public on October 29, 2015, free of charge until November 5.

According to the firm, “owing to the noble decision of Valeria Virsca, who had fulfilled the will of her husband, the priceless artistic heritage of the world class, consisting of 509 pieces of painting, graphic and applied arts, became a part of the Museum Fund of Ukraine.”

Asters advised on the preparation of documentation meant to "ensure the integrity and inviolability of the collection in public ownership.” According to the firm, by means of the donation agreement, "the Ukrainian state guarantees the full preservation of the art collection, its entirety and prevention from pledge, denationalization or privatization."

An Asters release described the mission of the Art Arsenal as being "to envision a united concept encompassing the breadth of Ukrainian cultural achievement and initiative, and to promote that concept embodied in Ukrainian art, culture, and history, ensuring its place in the broader heritage of the world culture. In four years over two million visitors have crossed Arsenal's thresholds for 45 major, and scores of small-scale projects, organized by the team of the Mystetskyi Arsenal."

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